New Diver with some Location Questions

[Viper12161]

Hey there fellow New Englanders!!

I'm recently certified and looking for some dives I can go on from my boat. I have an 18' Maxum which is a bayliner type boat. My slip is in Narragansett Bay, so looking at some areas around there that I can go since the boat is a bit limited to pretty much the bay area due to size. A few places of interest that I have been looking at are Hope Island and Gould Island (there's apparently some wrecks there to check out) as well as the Gooseberry Arches. Just to give an experience check, I only have 1 dive under my belt since being certified and that was a shore dive at Kings Beach 2 weeks ago. My dive buddy as been diving for about 20 years, so I have his experience with me at least, but definitely don't wanna do a dive way above my capabilities. From what I have researched the above dives seem pretty good with average depths of about 30-40'. The only one I'm questioning was the arches...not sure if should be diving under anything yet Any thoughts are GREATLY appreciated!!!!!

 

[AfterDark]

Welcome! There are plenty of dive easy sites in the bay and just outside. There's the sunken barge off Pier 5 towards the town beach, Hazard Ave. is just west of Pier 5, further west and south are the Pinnacles. Over by Jamestown is Horsehead, the east side of Beavertail is a beautiful dive, from a boat, in the west passage is Whale Rock. Newport has Castle Hill, Butterball Rock a Brit warship sunk there during the 1700's.
Seal Rock, Seal Ledge has the Llewellyn Holland sunk there in the 1930's a debris field of ship parts. GOOSEBERRY ISLAND and the arches among the best dives on the New England coast at the right time. The arch is abut 3 feet of overhead open on both sides hard to find if you don't where it is, as well as the lesser known small arch at 50fsw. Here's a couple of pictures of the big arch from 2017

Big tog also

It was marked with a dive flag doubt it still there.

The red X is the area of the arches

I shouldn't think you'd have any trouble diving the aches its not really an overhead. As a matter of fact I was floating under the arch letting the surge rock me back and forth I almost fell asleep! A very special place, enchanted.

Hope Island I have not been diving around. Gould Island is a good dive for spearfishing, big fish under the pilings! Also in the West passage is Dutch Island something of a wall dive on the side that faces Jamestown. There is a sunken barge just off the south end of Dutch Island. In the East passage in front Hammersmith Farm a very nice protected dive spot very little wind or swell influence there. Going north around the point at Fort Adams is the cove and beach area also Ida Louis Yacht Club a shallow but interesting dive. Old bottles from the 1700, 1800's pop up sometimes. A metal detector there would be interesting too. There have been rumors of u/w cave(s) used by bootleggers in the rock cliff at the end of the cove but in all the dives I've done there I've never found any.

If you are in need of a guide in the form of an old bold diver that's been diving RI / MA for the past 50 years feel free to ask.

 

[Viper12161]

Awesome, thanks!!! I did Gould Island yesterday. Didn't see much in the way of big fish...couple of little scups following me around. Did get a ton of clams though. Vis was a eh...prob about 5-6 feet or so. Still awesome to be in the water.

 

[McGriffin]

Hi Viper,
I recently got certified as well. If you ever need a dive buddy let me know.

 

[formernuke]

Hey Viper I'm going to second McGriffin. If you need/ want a dive buddy let me know.

The pinnacle is a good dive but you might want to get some experience first as it's a little more complex.

 

[Viper12161]

Thanks guys!! Sorry, didn't get a notification that you even responded!! Definitely game for new dive partners. I have a buddy that I have been diving with the last few times. He's going on like 25 years of experience. I have an 18' bowrider that we have been diving off of in the Bay. Due to size, she's a bit limited to that area and not really open water stuff. Definitely prefer off the boat to shore dives. I am currently trying to figure out my wetsuit situation. Love my suit, and super warm and comfortable in the water, but out of the water, flexibility is tough. I can't even bend enough to get my fins on. My buddy helps with those, but kind of embarrassing. I've known him for like 20 years, so not a biggie with him, but I'd feel like an idiot with a stranger. That's actually a reason I don't go to planned dives or respond to folks looking to dive. I feel like a a little kid..."can you help me put my fins on Dad!! "

 

[RIHappyDiver]

Thanks guys!! Sorry, didn't get a notification that you even responded!! Definitely game for new dive partners. I have a buddy that I have been diving with the last few times. He's going on like 25 years of experience. I have an 18' bowrider that we have been diving off of in the Bay. Due to size, she's a bit limited to that area and not really open water stuff. Definitely prefer off the boat to shore dives. I am currently trying to figure out my wetsuit situation. Love my suit, and super warm and comfortable in the water, but out of the water, flexibility is tough. I can't even bend enough to get my fins on. My buddy helps with those, but kind of embarrassing. I've known him for like 20 years, so not a biggie with him, but I'd feel like an idiot with a stranger. That's actually a reason I don't go to planned dives or respond to folks looking to dive. I feel like a a little kid..."can you help me put my fins on Dad!! "

I know you hearing it and me saying it are two different things but there is no reason to feel like an idiot. Most of us need some help putting on some piece of gear or another. My biggest is tightening my computer or compass, or both, onto my wrists. Then there’s having to have someone help me off of my knees when I drop my mask on the way down to the shore .

So, come dive with us this coming spring!

Erik

 

[AfterDark]

Hey Viper I'm 65 years you better believe I need help gearing up sometimes, that's what dive buddies are really for, embarrassment not required. See you in the spring.

 

[Steve_C]

So how do you handle the boat and diving? Do you have a third knowledgable person on board who can run the boat and use the radio? I assume you are not solo with that many dives. Stuff happens, divers get lost, or a current comes up, and the boat needs to go to them. Or the boat gets loose and somebody has to bring it back.

Enjoy your diving

 

[formernuke]

So how do you handle the boat and diving? Do you have a third knowledgable person on board who can run the boat and use the radio? I assume you are not solo with that many dives. Stuff happens, divers get lost, or a current comes up, and the boat needs to go to them. Or the boat gets loose and somebody has to bring it back.

Enjoy your diving

When I went with people with boats.

All divers carry smb's

Arrive at site and drop anchor, raise dive flag

Descend on anchor line

Check and set anchor if not already set.

Do dive